[bobbyt]

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but I couldn't find anything similar. I know that Nasturtium is a good companion plant for runners, but I've never planted it before, so need some advice please.
When should it be planted, if I normally plant my beans out in May?
How should I plant it, pots first, or seed in ground?
Should it be planted in the same bed as the runners, (in between bean plants), or nearby?
How to stop it spreading everywhere? Thanks everyone.

[steven c]

nice idea it would make the bean area more attractive and maybe divert the blackfly i have never tried it but would it make sense to site the nasturtiums slighty away from beans to as it were to divert the blackfly away
starting the seeds indoors to get a head start on the beans seems reasonable good luck.

[JayG]

I'm sure that most people who have grown nasturtiums will have found that in most years they are indeed a blackfly magnet and develop huge colonies of them.

Whether encouraging such a thriving community of pests anywhere near your runner beans is a good idea or not is perhaps a subject for debate - for me it's a bad idea.

[mumofstig]

Whether encouraging such a thriving community of pests anywhere near your runner beans is a good idea or not is perhaps a subject for debate - for me it's a bad idea.

I've always thought that way 

[lettice]

Yes, as mentioned above.
Nasturtiums attract Blackfly and cabbage white, so having them right next to your beans would not be a good idea.
Think the idea is to have them somewhere on the plot to attract the blackfly and cabbage white there and create a detour for them to find your beans and brassicas.
Also, they spread like mad, so will seed easily if not careful.

One of the best companion plants I have found is regular radish sowings between rows of broad beans.
The plants give a little shade, so stops the radish bolting quickly and it also encourages you to hoe regularly too between the rows.
Never tried with runner beans, but may work when they are starting off their journey up the poles.

One thing I tried last year was having runner beans on 3/4 of the row of poles and  climbing flat beans (Helda, Hunter, Pantheon)on the other 1/4 of the pole. They grew together nicely and had a good as crop as ever. Did think they might try and cross over each other, but a few slight long tendril diversions as they reached the top and they stayed there.

[bobbyt]

Thanks everyone, food for thought there.

[comfreykid]

I always grow the herb Summer Savory with my beans , they seem  to have an affinity with each other , and certainly the Savory planted beans crop for longer. Also , a pinch of the herb in the cooking water of the beans enhances the flavour nicely.